CPHD
East Falls Church Planning Study
The East Falls Church Plan will provide guidance for future development on the East Falls Church Metrorail Station Park & Ride lot and nine other sites likely to redevelop. The Plan also identifies several potential infrastructure improvement projects that will contribute to greater pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety, enhance the area’s “sense of place”, and mitigate some of the area’s existing traffic problems. Major recommendations include:
- Mixed-use development at key sites
- Neighborhood-oriented businesses;
- A significant public open space at the Park & Ride site that would become a central gathering space
- A western entrance to the East Falls Church Metrorail station, which would provide better access to the station from planned development along Lee Highway in Arlington and Washington Street in the City of Falls Church.
The East Falls Church Planning Task Force; comprised of citizens from Arlington County, the City of Falls Church, VDOT and WMATA worked with staff from both jurisdictions to develop the Plan. The Task Force reviewed previous plans for Arlington, as well as potential development in the City of Falls Church, according to their 2005 Comprehensive Plan. A transportation analysis was completed, which assessed current and future traffic conditions, and made recommendations for future pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular improvements in the area. The Plan will be presented to Arlington County Board for adoption in July.
Draft East Falls Church Plan
The Task Force voted to recommend the Draft East Falls Church Plan to the County Board for adoption at their June 9, 2010 meeting. The Task Force continued to work with staff on editorial changes to the document, which have now been completed. The revised plan is available here:
Draft East Falls Church Plan (PDF Downloadable Version)Draft East Falls Church Plan (Viewable Macromedia Flash Version)
Draft EFC Transportation Impact Study| Appendix
The draft Transportation Impact Study was recently submitted to VDOT for review and is based on the preliminary land use recommendations in the "Staff Draft".
Upcoming Meetings
No additional Task Force meetings are scheduled at this time.
Public Review Process Outline
Date | Meeting | Purpose / Action | Location / Time |
6/15 (Recessed Meeting) | “Request To Advertise” Staff Report for Task Force Plan is considered by the County Board | Advertise Plan for July Action | County Board Room 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 3rd Floor (6:30 pm) |
6/16 | Historic and Landmarks Review Board (HALRB) Mtg | HALRB Recommendation | 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 1st Floor – Cherry & Dogwood Rooms (7:30 pm) |
6/22 | Parks Commission Mtg | Parks Recommendation to County Board | 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 1st Floor – Cherry & Dogwood Rooms (7:00 pm) |
6/24 | Housing Commission Mtg | HC Recommendation to County Board | 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Room 311 (7:00 pm) |
6/24 | Transportation Commission Mtg | TC Recommendation to County Board | County Board Room 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 3rd Floor (7:00 pm) |
6/28 | Environment & Energy Conservation Commission (E2C2) Mtg | E2C2 Recommendation to County Board | 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 1st Floor – Azalea Room (7:30 pm) |
6/28 (or 6/30 Carryover Meeting) | Planning Commission Mtg | PC Recommendation to County Board | County Board Room 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 3rd Floor (7:00 pm) |
7/10 (or 7/13 Recessed Meeting) | CountyBoardMtg | CountyBoardAction on Task Force Plan Anticipated | County Board Room 2100 Clarendon Blvd, 3rd Floor (TBD) |
Bold = Public Hearings
MEETING SUMMARIES
- September 27, 2007
- October 24, 2007
- November 3, 2007(Walking Tour)
- October 24, 2007
- January 23, 2008
- February 27, 2008
- March 26, 2008
- April 23, 2008
- May 28, 2008
- June 25, 2008
- September 24, 2008
- October 22, 2008
- November 19, 2008
- December 17, 2008
- February 25, 2009
- March 25, 2009
- April 22, 2009
- May 27, 2009
- June 24, 2009
- July 22, 2009
- October 28, 2009
- January 27, 2010
- February 24, 2010
- March 18, 2010
- March 24, 2010
- Issues Matrix: At the March 24th, April 6th and April 14th Task Force meetings, the Task Force continued to discuss the "Staff Draft" and developed an Issues Matrix to outline their decisions relative to the staff's recommendations in the Plan.
East Falls Church Planning Study Task Force Membership
East Falls Church Planning Study Updated Timeline[1]
September 2007
- Hold kick-off meeting.
- Discuss study scope
- Discuss Task Force and public participation schedule.
- Help identify issues and sites to be addressed.
- Schedule walking tour of project area
October - December 2007
- Review current transportation conditions and discuss scope of transportation analysis
- Hold Walking Tour
- Review recommendations from previous studies and documents, such as the Virginia Tech East Falls Church Metro Area Plan (2004), the WMATA East Falls Church Station Access Study (2002), and the Arlington East Falls Church Civic Association Metro Survey (2005).
January 2008
- Hold Community Meeting* to solicit input from community prior to discussing concepts and alternatives.
February – June 2008
- Review baseline transportation data (current conditions)
- Discuss VDOT plans for the study area
- Develop Vision Statement & Guiding Principles
September 2008 – April 2009
- Develop draft concepts and alternatives for identified sites
- Discuss urban design, open space, streetscape, transit, pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
- Discuss affordable housing, LEED, and other community benefit goals.
- Review results of transportation analysis and recommend revisions to preliminary redevelopment concepts and alternatives.
- Provide updates to and solicit feedback from affected civic associations, Advisory Boards, and interested citizens.
- Hold community-wide forum(s)*
- Provide interim concepts for review
May - July 2009
- Provide input on all recommendations for the study area.
- Work with staff to develop an implementation strategy for achieving the vision.
- Staff works with Task Force to develop final recommendations for County Board review and approval.
September - December 2009
- Seek final comments from civic associations, Advisory Boards, and interested citizens.
- Staff works with Task Force to prepare presentations for Planning and Transportation Commissions.
- County Board review and adoption.
*Additional community meetings and/or updates for advisory commissions will be scheduled on an as-needed basis.
For more information, contact Richard Tucker with Arlington County, Senior Planner at 703-228-0069 or Wendy Block Sanford Senior Planner with The City of Falls Church at 703-248-5041.
